Monday, 25 March 2019

The Chinese Government will this year provide US$30 million
to assist and support the Government and the country as relations between the
two countries continue to strengthen.

This was revealed by Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo
Shaochun after he paid a courtesy call on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga
at his Munhumutapa offices yesterday.

In an interview, Ambassador Guo said they had discussed
several issues with Vice President Chiwenga.

“We had a very good discussion with the Vice President and
I once again extended my condolences to the families of victims of the
cyclone,” he said.

“A few days ago we decided to provide US$800 000 in cash as
an urgent humanitarian aid towards the rescue efforts being conducted by the
Zimbabwean Government,” he said.

He reiterated that they would soon send a medical team to
the affected area to assist victims of the cyclone.

Ambassador Guo said this year they were going to assist
Government in drilling 500 boreholes and providing 10 165 tonnes of rice.

“The support, the assistance will be over US$30 million. As
true friends, true brothers and true partners we will do our best to support
your country, Government and people,” he said.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr
Sibusiso Moyo said Ambassador Gou and the Vice President held discussions on
relations and economic co-operation between the two countries.

“First of all as you are aware Ambassador Gou has just
presented his credentials to the President and it was his first time to meet
the Vice President and discuss issues to do with our relations in general and
issues to do with economic co-operation in particular. Therefore these are the
areas of focus which His Excellency was briefing the Vice President,” he said

He said they think that the relationship between the two
countries which had been raised to comprehensive strategic partnership was
going to bear fruit.

Minister Moyo said among the partnerships was a Grant of
Parliament, which had just started, Hwange 7 and 8 expansion, which had been
funded and the expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,
among other issues.

He said Ambassador Gou informed Vice President Chiwenga
that Zimbabwe should also benefit from the $60 billion fund available for
Africa under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Meanwhile Canada has committed US$3,5 million to assist
victims of Cyclone Idai in Southern Africa which left more than over 150 people
dead and destroyed infrastructure in Zimbabwe.

The assistance will be provided through United Nations, Red
Cross and non-governmental organisation partners and will focus on meeting the
immediate food, shelter, water, sanitation, health and protection needs of
households displaced by flooding or otherwise impacted by the storm.

In a statement by media relations office, Foreign
Development Minister, Maryam Monsef said Canada will provide initial funding of
up to $3,5 million in emergency assistance to support humanitarian
organisations responding to the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai in
Southern Africa.

“Canada has also made a donation of humanitarian relief
stocks, including tarpaulins, shelter kits, mosquito nets and blankets, to help
respond to the immediate needs of the people affected by the cyclone,” read the
statement.

Corporates also continue to donate to the cyclone victims,
with Delta Corporation donating and $1,5 million and goods $50 000 towards the
ongoing efforts to deal with the emergency.

The relief packs will include two blankets, two buckets, 10
litres of water, four kilogrammes sugar, four kilogrammes rice, four litres of
cooking oil, 10kilogrammes mealie meal, one pack of matemba, four plastic
plates, four spoons, four cups, two bars of soap, two packets of diapers and
three packs of sanitary wear per family.

Masawara employees have also contributed food items,
clothing, bedding and money to help assist the cyclone victims.

Masawara Insurance chief executive, Mr Mustafa Sachak said
the company was also planning to come up with long term measures to reduce the
impact of future natural disasters.